December decision for South Roscommon wind farm proposal
An Bord Pleanála is due to decide whether or not to approve twenty 180-metre high wind turbines in South Roscommon by December 5 next, it's emerged.
Energia Renewables ROI Ltd submitted a planning application to An Bord Pleanála for the new wind farm near Dysart, at the beginning of June, an investment previously put at €100 million.
In all, the proposed Seven Hills wind energy project would consist of up to 20 wind turbines with a typical output of six to seven megawatts - enough to supply around 85,000 Irish households with renewable electricity every year.
The wind turbines with an overall ground to blade tip height of 180 metres, a rotor diameter of 162 metres and a hub height of 99 metres, are earmarked for an area of approximately 588 hectares of land in total, the submitted plans indicate.
It would be divided by the main R363 road into two wind turbine clusters, seven in the Dysart area, and 13 in the Taughmaconnell area, the company previously indicated when they announced a revised layout for the scheme.
Among the townlands earmarked for the project include Turrock, Cronin, Gortaphuill, Glenrevagh, Tullyneeny, Bredagh, Cuilleenirwan, Cuilleenoolagh, Curry, Milltown, Tobermacloughlin, Skeavally, Boleyduff, Clooncaltry, Feacle, Cam, Tawnagh, Cornageeha, Pollalaher, Brideswell, Knocknanool, Ballymullavill, Rooskagh, Bellanamullia, Cloonakille, Monksland and Commeen.
“The layout of the proposed development has been designed to minimise any potential environmental effects of the development, while at the same time maximising the energy yield from the site,” states the planning report, which is part of a huge number of reports and environmental studies lodged in support of the renewable energy project.
The application, made via the Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) process, directly to An Bord Pleanála is seeking a ten-year planning permission and 30-year turbine operational period from the date of commissioning of the entire wind farm.
An Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and Natura Impact Statement (NIS) have been prepared.
The application is a joint venture proposal between Energia Renewables ROI Ltd. and Galetech Energy Developments Ltd. Energia Renewables ROI Ltd is a subsidiary of Energia Group.
When asked why the project had been resurrected, given the local community fought the previous scheme all the way to High Court over six years ago and won, a spokesperson for Energia previously stressed that the latest proposals are a “new project” with “fewer turbines and a new site layout”.
The company acknowledged the court win which ruled that further environmental studies were required in relation to groundwater systems and local flooding. Among the vast amount of documentation lodged to An Bord Pleanála this time around includes various studies and reports to directly address the earlier refusal verdict.
The new application comes following extensive site surveys and investigations, together with ongoing engagement with the local community and stakeholders, Energia says, adding that it includes a permanent meteorological mast with a maximum height of 100 metres for a period of 30 years from the date of commissioning of the entire wind farm, provision of one 110kV onsite substation in the townland of Cam, along with associated control buildings.
According to the planning report, it is proposed to connect both wind turbine land parcels via 33kV cabling in the public road (R363) to the new 110kV on-site substation. From here, the 110kV cabling will travel east in the public road corridor (in the main) to the Athlone 110kV substation in the townland of Monksland.
A new bay is proposed at the existing Athlone 110kV substation to facilitate the wind farm project.
The land use is almost entirely agricultural grasslands used for grazing and pasture farming, explains the planning report, adding that mall areas of non-commercial forestry, scrub, peatcutting, quarrying and low-density residential areas in nearby villages.
There are a number of small lakes, turloughs and seasonal lakes are located within proximity of the site, it adds.
Energia says the wind farm will also provide a substantial annual benefit fund to support local community projects.
The documentation is available on www.sevenhillswindfarm.ie website, An Bord Pleanála or in Roscommon County Council.